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Biggest FIRA ever confirms rising interest in ag robotics

10-02-2023 | |
World FIRA 2023 attracted record numbers of field robot manufacturers and participant and confirmed the increasing uptake of ag robotics.
The 7th edition of World FIRA attracted record numbers of robot manufacturers and participants. A couple of manufacturers chose World FIRA to premiere their robot to the world. - Photos: René Koerhuis

The 7th edition of World FIRA attracted record numbers of field robot manufacturers and participants from across the world. The high level of interest and quality of the event is clearly confirming the increasing uptake of ag robotics.

Although some exhibitors and participants wondered why the major tractor manufacturers were not showcasing their autonomous and robotic solutions at World FIRA, the event attracted a record number of exhibitors and participants. The 7th edition of the event that took place from 7 until 9 February in Toulouse/Auzeville-Tolosane, attracted around 1.300 participants and in addition 500 French students.

Outdoor robot demos

The new element of the event, outdoor robot demos, was highly appreciated by the audience. The indoor section of the event hosted a few robot manufacturers, technology providers as well as national pavilions from Italy and the Netherlands.

Interesting robot premieres

A couple of (young) field robot manufacturers chose World FIRA to premiere their robot and/or demo it. Ant Robotics showcased the first prototype of the Valera cobot for transporting manually harvested fruits like strawberries. Fellow German company Digitial Workbench introduced its Tipard 350 carrier platform.

A third initiative from Germany is E-Terry. E-Terry has been working on their concept since 2019 when it first appeared at the Agritechnica exhibition. During the 2021 edition of World FIRA, the startup won the best innovative ag robotics startup award.

During World FIRA the InsightTRAC Rover won the Ag Robot of the Year award 2023

Hydrogen fuel cell powered Traxx field robot

Although not a new appearance from a vehicle point of view, French Exxact Robotics, revealed a prototype of its hydrogen fuel cell powered Traxx field robot. HariTech from Hungary presented two 25 hp diesel engine powered robotic carrier vehicles called Haribot designed for tree nurseries and plantations.

Léger, a French manufacturer specialised in machinery for mainly French hazelnut growers, launched its RoboCut 360 field robot equipped with its EcoCut 360 pruner head to prune suckers/spurs at the hazelnut tree basis.

Pixelfarming Robotics: CO2-lasers for weeding

Dutch Pixelfarming Robotics premiered the latest version of their Robot One. The technology under the new bonnets and covers is the same as before but the vehicle is lower and has an increased wheel base. New is the possibility to attach CO2-lasers for weeding to one or more of the 10 arms.

French Softivert introduced a prototype of their 30 hp SoftiRover e-K18 electric articulated tractor. Teyme from Spain did a demo with their WETA spraying robot for vineyards. This robot is being developed by several partners who joined forces in the European Scorpion project funded by Horizon 2020.

Stay tuned to the Future Farming website for more in-depth stories and videos of the new field robots who premiered at World FIRA next week and the week after.

Ant Robotics showcased the first prototype of the Valera cobot for transporting manually harvested fruits like strawberries. The cobot follows the pickers by means of patented software technology. It can carry 500 kilograms and is designed for 180 m strawberry fields. Price indication: € 24,000 to € 26,000.
Ant Robotics showcased the first prototype of the Valera cobot for transporting manually harvested fruits like strawberries. The cobot follows the pickers by means of patented software technology. It can carry 500 kilograms and is designed for 180 m strawberry fields. Price indication: € 24,000 to € 26,000.
German company Digitial Workbench introduced its Tipard 350 carrier prototype with patented technology for a self-levelling platform with a variable ground clearance between 80 and 110 cm. It’s equipped with an inhouse develop dual RTK-gps antenna to record the position of individual seeds.
German company Digitial Workbench introduced its Tipard 350 carrier prototype with patented technology for a self-levelling platform with a variable ground clearance between 80 and 110 cm. It’s equipped with an inhouse develop dual RTK-gps antenna to record the position of individual seeds.
E-Terry is a lightweight carrier vehicle with a sort of thrush frame on three wheels. The startup first showed their concept, with bicycle wheels at the time, at the 2019 edition of the Agritechnica exhibition. Their concept is now ready to be marketed.
E-Terry is a lightweight carrier vehicle with a sort of thrush frame on three wheels. The startup first showed their concept, with bicycle wheels at the time, at the 2019 edition of the Agritechnica exhibition. Their concept is now ready to be marketed.
Making its debut at the FIRA event, the Traxx Concept H2 prototype is fuelled by hydrogen, which says its maker Exxact Robotics further enhances its sustainability credentials. In place of the engine is a fuel cell, which is fed by two on-board hydrogen cylinders.
Making its debut at the FIRA event, the Traxx Concept H2 prototype is fuelled by hydrogen, which says its maker Exxact Robotics further enhances its sustainability credentials. In place of the engine is a fuel cell, which is fed by two on-board hydrogen cylinders.
HariTech from Hungary presented two 25 hp diesel engine powered robotic carrier vehicles called Haribot designed for tree nurseries and plantations. The vehicle in the front is equipped with three drills/augers to drill holes for planting trees. Most Hungarian farmers still make these holes by hand. Both robots are for sale for € 75,000.
HariTech from Hungary presented two 25 hp diesel engine powered robotic carrier vehicles called Haribot designed for tree nurseries and plantations. The vehicle in the front is equipped with three drills/augers to drill holes for planting trees. Most Hungarian farmers still make these holes by hand. Both robots are for sale for € 75,000.
Léger launched its RoboCut 360 field robot prototype equipped with its EcoCut 360 pruner head to prune suckers/spurs at the hazelnut tree basis. Common practice is using the pruner attached to a tractor driving at 1.5 km/h. Léger say they created their own autonomous platform to prevent being depended on suppliers.
Léger launched its RoboCut 360 field robot prototype equipped with its EcoCut 360 pruner head to prune suckers/spurs at the hazelnut tree basis. Common practice is using the pruner attached to a tractor driving at 1.5 km/h. Léger say they created their own autonomous platform to prevent being depended on suppliers.
Pixelfarming Robotics premiered their latest version of Robot One. The technology under the new bonnets is the same as before, but the vehicle is lower and has a larger wheel base in order to make it more stable. The track width is adjustable from 1.80 to 3.50 m by turning the wheels and having it drive in one of the four different directions.
Pixelfarming Robotics premiered their latest version of Robot One. The technology under the new bonnets is the same as before, but the vehicle is lower and has a larger wheel base in order to make it more stable. The track width is adjustable from 1.80 to 3.50 m by turning the wheels and having it drive in one of the four different directions.
Softivert introduced a prototype of their 30 hp SoftiRover e-K18 electric articulated tractor. It was one of the autonomous vehicles on demo that drew lots of attention. Probably because of its resemblance with current day tractors. The sales price is targeted at € 100,000 and its due to go on sale in 2025.
Softivert introduced a prototype of their 30 hp SoftiRover e-K18 electric articulated tractor. It was one of the autonomous vehicles on demo that drew lots of attention. Probably because of its resemblance with current day tractors. The sales price is targeted at € 100,000 and its due to go on sale in 2025.
In light of the European Scorpion project, Spanish sprayer manufacturer Teyme presented the WETA spraying robot for vineyards. The robotic platform is being developed by several European research institutes, universities and machinery manufacturers.
In light of the European Scorpion project, Spanish sprayer manufacturer Teyme presented the WETA spraying robot for vineyards. The robotic platform is being developed by several European research institutes, universities and machinery manufacturers.
There was more to the show than just field robots. Despite the rather cold weather, participants could enjoy good food and drinks such as this Biere de Recolte or Harvest Ale.
There was more to the show than just field robots. Despite the rather cold weather, participants could enjoy good food and drinks such as this Biere de Recolte or Harvest Ale.
The new element of the event, outdoor robot demos, was highly appreciated by the audience.
The new element of the event, outdoor robot demos, was highly appreciated by the audience.

 

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Koerhuis
René Koerhuis Precision Farming Specialist
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